It is obvious from America’s beauty contests with swimsuit and evening wear competitions that most people think of beauty in terms of shape and size. If there is a talent competition the winner is the one who is the most entertaining.
So, it really interested me to hear of the “Miss Senegal” contest in Africa. It was decided not to have a swimsuit competition because such dress was immodest. And the talent competition required each contestant to demonstrate some agricultural skill! Several of the entrants showed their ability at plucking chickens. And the woman who won did so by killing and skinning and butchering a goat!
What do you think makes a woman beautiful? Surely it is more than just physical appearance. Haven’t you at sometime suddenly forgotten how pretty a woman was when she started talking? It is like the Proverb, “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” (11:22, NASV)
But perhaps you agree more with the conclusion of a long section about a woman’s beauty found in Proverbs 31…”Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord she shall be praised”! (31:30)
The apostle Peter speaks of those women who are good examples (1 Pt. 3:1-6). Paul talks about women being respectful (Eph. 5:22-33). He says the women who are loving and kind bring honor to the word of God (Titus 2:3-5). Those who work and are not idle (1 Tim. 5: 11-15) give the enemy no occasion for reproach.
You can tell what will make a young woman beautiful by seeing what is admired in an older woman … “a reputation for good works, has brought up children, shown hospitality to strangers, washed the saints’ feet, assisted those in distress, devoted herself to every good work. .. ” (1 Tim. 5:10)
God’s woman knows that real beauty has to do with how she lives. And godly men everywhere admire that beauty above all.
– by Robert Hines